Four overseas shearers have made the six-man final of the Southland All Nations Intermediate machine shearing championship which will be one of the first finals decided during the 40th anniversary World shearing and woolhandling championships in Invercargill.
The final will be shorn at the end of the third day on Friday night, along with five other finals in the open-entry All Nations championships which double as a chance for nationally-selected World Championships competitors to prepare in New Zealand conditions and for hundreds of shearing and woolhabdling supporters to share in the action.
The Intermediate finalists, after 12 shore in this morning's semi-finals, are headed by Welsh shearer John James, with compatriot and the top qualifier from the first-day heats Jonny Rees, surviving to got another round and qualifying in fifth place.
The others from overseas are Australian Tom Brewer and English shearer George Olof.
Both James and Olof have won lower grade events in New Zealand competition.
Shearing:
All Nations Intermediate Heats (4 sheep, top six to final on Friday): John James (Wales) 7min 21.981sec, 29.349pts, 1; Tom Brewer (Australia) 8min 23.912sec, 31.946pts, 2; Brandon Maguire-Ratima (Winton) 8min 31.756sec, 32.338pts, 3; Mitchell Murray (Amberley) 7min 3.612sec, 33.181pts, 4; Jonny Rees (Wales) 8min 6.871sec, 33.181pts, 5; George Olof (England) 7min 42.429sec, 34.121pts, 6.
The final will be shorn at the end of the third day on Friday night, along with five other finals in the open-entry All Nations championships which double as a chance for nationally-selected World Championships competitors to prepare in New Zealand conditions and for hundreds of shearing and woolhabdling supporters to share in the action.
The Intermediate finalists, after 12 shore in this morning's semi-finals, are headed by Welsh shearer John James, with compatriot and the top qualifier from the first-day heats Jonny Rees, surviving to got another round and qualifying in fifth place.
The others from overseas are Australian Tom Brewer and English shearer George Olof.
Both James and Olof have won lower grade events in New Zealand competition.
Shearing:
All Nations Intermediate Heats (4 sheep, top six to final on Friday): John James (Wales) 7min 21.981sec, 29.349pts, 1; Tom Brewer (Australia) 8min 23.912sec, 31.946pts, 2; Brandon Maguire-Ratima (Winton) 8min 31.756sec, 32.338pts, 3; Mitchell Murray (Amberley) 7min 3.612sec, 33.181pts, 4; Jonny Rees (Wales) 8min 6.871sec, 33.181pts, 5; George Olof (England) 7min 42.429sec, 34.121pts, 6.